Kouropalatēs, Latinized as curopalates or curopalata (, from "the charge of the palace")[.] and Anglicisation as curopalate, was a Byzantine Empire court title, one of the highest from the time of Emperor Justinian I to the Komnenian period in the 12th century.[.] The female variant, held by the spouses of the kouropalatai, was kouropalatissa.
History and nature of the title
The title is first attested (as
curapalati) in the early 5th century, as an official of
Vir illustris rank under the
castrensis palatii, charged with the maintenance of the imperial palace (cf.
Western Europe "
majordomo").
[.] When Emperor
Justinian I () made his nephew and heir
Justin II curopalates in 552, however, the office took on new significance, and became one of the most exalted dignities, ranking next to
Caesar and
nobilissimus and, like them, reserved initially for members of the imperial family. Unlike them, however, it later came to be granted to important foreign rulers, mostly in the
Caucasus. Thus, from the 580s to the 1060s, sixteen
Medieval Georgia ruling princes and kings held that honorific title, as well as, after 635, several
Medieval Armenia dynasts.
[.]
According to the Kletorologion of Philotheos, written in 899, the insignia of the rank were a red tunic, mantle and belt. Their award by the Byzantine emperor signified the elevation of the recipient to the office.[.] By the 11th–12th century, the dignity had lost its earlier significance:[.] it was granted as an honorary title to generals outside the imperial family,[.] The title survived into the Palaiologan period, but was rarely used.
List of prominent Byzantine holders
-
Justin II, under his uncle, Emperor Justinian I ().
[.]
-
Baduarius, under his father-in-law Emperor Justin II ().
[.]
-
Peter, the brother of Emperor Maurice ().
-
Domentziolus, the nephew of Emperor Phocas ().
-
Theodore, brother of Emperor Heraclius ().
-
Artabasdos, under Emperor Leo III the Isaurian ().
-
Michael I Rangabe, the son-in-law of Emperor Nikephoros I ().
-
Bardas, uncle and effective regent for Emperor Michael III ().
-
Leo Phokas, general and brother of Emperor Nikephoros II Phokas ().
-
Guaram I, Prince of Iberia
-
Guaram II, Prince of Iberia and hereditary duke ( eristavi) of Klarjeti and Javakheti
-
Guaram III, Prince of Kartli
See also
Sources
